NEWTON FALLS — With Newton Falls school treasurer Ben Marko leaving Dec. 31 for a position with the Canfield Local School District, school officials have begun the search for a new treasurer.

The board of education is working with the Shared Services Alliance to find a new treasurer and has named Alan Boone, a 2016 Newton Falls graduate, to serve as interim treasurer.

Superintendent Andreas Johansson said the process to find a new treasurer will take several months, but Boone will serve until one is selected.

“They will help us with our search. The board felt (Boone) as interim treasurer was a great fit since he knows the district,” Johansson said.

He said Boone also served as interim treasurer for Lakeview schools when they were searching for a treasurer. The board at their recent meeting thanked Marko for his service.

Marko had been with the Newton Falls district for two-and-half years. He will replace Pattie Prince, who is retiring after 39 years with the Canfield district. She announced her retirement in June.

Dee Howard, an employee in the board offices, said at a recent meeting that Marko has been an excellent treasurer for the district and is happy he has the opportunity to move on with his career.

“He has been very loyal to Newton Falls and its staff and students. He always goes above and beyond. He has had opportunities to go other places,” Howard said.

Other internal changes in the treasurer’s office include naming Kenneth Scowden as assistant to the treasurer / payroll on a one-year agreement and transferring Melissa Connelly from assistant to the treasurer / payroll to assistant to the treasurer / accounts payable.

The board accepted the resignation of Angela Giulioano, assistant to the treasurer / budgetary effective Dec. 31.

DEPARTING BOARD MEMBERS

The board of education also thanked Amie Crowder and Dan Williams for their service to the board.

Both Crowder and Williams were defeated in the November election.

Crowder, who has most recently served as board president, served several terms on the board and Williams was appointed to fill a vacancy and has served for the past two years.

Elected to serve on the board starting in January are Rachael Rankin and Jae Leeworthy and reelected to a new term was Tonya Kline.

In other business, Johansson said he and superintendents from Lakeview and Liberty attended a wrestling expo in Liberty earlier this month as the district is looking at adding wrestling and bowling as new sports for the 2026-27 school year. Falls Athletic Director Chad Rankin spoke to the board about adding new sports programs.

READING INITIATIVE

The district last fall started the annual “One School, One Book, One Community” initiative at the elementary / middle school, bringing together students, families and more than 40 local business partners to foster a shared love of reading.

This year, the students are reading “Fenway and Hattie,” a tale about a Jack Russell terrier, his best friend, and two mischievous squirrels named Nutty and Scamper.

The program began with a special Family Day kickoff event, where parents and students were introduced to characters through a skit performed by staff.

Participating businesses, easily identified by special “ELMS Readers Stop Here!” signs displayed in their windows, are asking students questions about each chapter as they bring their passports to be stamped. The community-wide effort encourages families to read together each night and strengthens connections between local businesses and the school district.

ELMS Principal Lori Witt said the project is not just about reading a book.

“It’s about building a sense of community where our children know they are supported both inside and outside the classroom,” she said.

She said activities and discussions are often planned around the book, giving students the chance to engage with the story in creative and meaningful ways. This program not only promotes literacy, but also strengthens the sense of community by uniting everyone through a shared adventure in reading.

In other business, the board recognized senior Ellie Falb, who serves as the board’s student ambassador by providing updates on the students and their issues. She was also recently named the top winner in the Tribune Chronicle’s Twenty Under 20 awards program.

When she was a junior, she received the Congressional Silver Medal, a distinguished honor awarded by the United States Congress. Falb is the first student in Newton Falls history to achieve the recognition.

Falb has set her sights on the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor in the program. Her goal is to complete the necessary requirements and attend the national award ceremony in Washington, D.C. in June.

The board also:

• Rehired maintenance employee Frank Tatarka on a retire / rehire agreement.

• Set the organizational meeting for 5:30 p.m. Jan. 8 followed by the regular meeting.